- At-large Councilman Eric Turner commenting in April on the City Council's decision in October 2007 to extend its 4 a.m. liquor license district on a temporary basis only to Club Apollo.

"In Peoria, a yellow light means gun it."

- 2nd District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken during a meeting in which engineers presented ideas to the public about what should be done to alleviate traffic problems at the Sheridan Triangle of Sheridan Road, Loucks and Gift avenues.

"I just hope all the talk about recession doesn't become self-fulfilling prophecy."

- Doug Orear, president of the Manpower Inc. office in Peoria, in March, discussing how area employers seemed to be taking a cautious approach to personnel decisions while waiting to see if the economy continued to falter in the next few months.

"I'm happier today than when I learned the feds were escorting Blago to jail."

- State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, speaking during a Dec. 10 news conference unveiling details for the new Downtown Marriott Hotel project.

"I didn't want to do it, but it was either move it or lose it."

- David Ransburg, former CEO of L.R. Nelson Corp., explaining how his former company's financial troubles forced him to move production jobs to China a few years ago. Ransburg sold Nelson to The Bosch Group in September.

"They look like something left over from Woodstock in the '60s."

- Peoria County Republican Party Chairman Rudy Lewis, referring to supporters of former presidential candidate Ron Paul roaming around the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield during Republican Day in August.

"People say this is the middle of nowhere. I correct them. We're in the middle of everywhere. There's Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Havana and Pekin. We draw from all those places."

- Chris Speyrer, owner of the Mason City Limits comedy club.

"I'm just having a hard time imagining it being gone. It's sad. It really is."

- Pete Vonachen, founder of Vonachen's Old Place, after current restaurant owners Mercedes Restaurants Inc. decided to close the Junction City business in August.